Cessna 152 accident near Tunas, Missouri, July 4, 1989
On July 4, 1989 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N757EJ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tunas, Missouri. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION BECAUSE OF IMPROPER FLIGHT PLANNING BY THE PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 1989 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Tunas, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N757EJ · registry record · serial 15279678
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL PILOT SAID THAT ABOUT TEN MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE FAILED. AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS ATTEMPTED WHICH RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE ACFT AND MINOR INJURIES TO THE PILOT. THE PILOT ESTIMATED SHE HAD ABOUT 5.5 GALLONS OF FUEL REMAINING IN THE TANKS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. SHE SAID SHE WAS FLYING TO AN AIRPORT, THAT HAD FUEL FACILITIES, THAT WAS LOCATED ABOUT 25 MILES AWAY, TO REFUEL. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE FUEL TANKS TO BE EMPTY OF USABLE FUEL.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 515 hours in all; 221 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 383 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,955 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 27, 1989; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 97MO Buffalo MO at 5:50 pm
- Destination: H21 Camdenton MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:49 pm from SGF, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.